Endocrine Abstracts

Recent evidence suggests that resolution of hypercortisolism in Cushing’s disease (CD) may not lead to complete remission of the clinical abnormalities associated with this condition. In particular, elevated cardiovascular risk may persist in ‘cured’ CD patients long-term after eucortisolism has been achieved. This is believed to be related with the maintenance of visceral obesity and altered adipokine secretory pattern which perpetuate features of metabolic syn...

Background: Early diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome and initiation of effective treatment are essential to limit long-term morbidity and early mortality. However, diagnosis is often delayed due to the non-specificity of symptoms, or because symptoms are not recognised by physicians, leading to more complex treatment needs and a worsening of patient quality of life. A survey was conducted to better understand the patient experience of Cushing’s syndrome and the true b...

Background: Residual morbidity in patients with Cushing’s syndrome (CS) in remission significantly affects Quality of Life (QoL). While sustained muscle weakness is a frequent complaint in these patients, the impact of muscle dysfunction on their psychophysical wellbeing is currently unknown. Patients & methods: We included 28 female patients [mean(±SD) age, 50±12 years; mean (±SD) BMI, 26.7±3.8] and 26 age- and BMI-matched healthy controls. Mean (...

Objective: Acromegaly (ACRO) is associated with abnormal bone remodeling and reduced volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) at the lumbar spine and proximal femur. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) modulate the activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and are currently being investigated as potential biomarkers of osteoporosis. The aims of our study were: 1) To identify differentially expressed miRNAs in the serum of five patients with active ACRO vs. healthy controls, and 2) To ...

Introduction: Cushing’s syndrome (CS) has been related to higher psychopathology. Psychopathology can be related to poor memory performance, and low quality of life. The aim of this study is to establish the relationship between the three parameters and with subjective symptom perception in CS.Methods/design: Thirty six patients in remission of CS and 36 matched controls for age, sex and education years were included in the study. They completed SCL...

Introduction: Cushing’s disease (CD) and acromegaly, despite their different specific symptoms, often present psychopathology (mainly depression and anxiety) even after hormonal normalization. However, their psychopathological profiles may be different. The aim of this study was to analyse the psychopathological profile in successfully treated Acromegaly and CD, and to compare both diseases. Current hormonal evaluation and time since endocrine control will also be analyse...

Background: Patients with Cushing’s syndrome (CS) in remission show residual cardiometabolic derangements leading to increased cardiovascular risk. Impaired characteristics of gut microbiome (dysbiosis), such as richness, diversity and composition, have been associated with several cardiometabolic risk factors, including obesity, insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. Whether CS patients present with intestinal dysbiosis is currently unknown. Our study was aimed at evalu...

Acromegaly is a rare disease usually diagnosed late in disease evolution. It implies for skeletal changes of most flat bones including those of the skull. Consequently, a progressive facial disfiguration occurs at slow velocity of irreversible nature. Even after curation most of these changes stay for the whole life of the patient.Aim: to study the potential relationship between disfiguring facial modifications and psychosocial and Quality of Life (QoL) ...

Introduction: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a protein that has been linked to several cardiovascular risk factors and bone status. Stress and corticosteroid exposure can affect BDNF levels, although this has never been studied in Cushing’s syndrome (CS). The aims of this study were to establish if BDNF levels were reduced in CS and to check possible associations to cardiovascular risk factors and bone status.Methods: 52 patients (18 ac...

Introduction: Acromegaly is associated with increased bone turnover and skeletal fragility. Although the GH/IGF1 system plays an important role in bone homeostasis, effects of GH excess on the Wnt signalling pathway are to be determined. Bone quantitative CT (QCT) provides a volumetric, tridimensional measure of bone mass at the trabecular and cortical level.Aim: i) To compare volumetric bone density (vBMD) using QCT in patients with acromegaly vs gender...